November 17, 2021
Incident Command #208: Medical Officer of the Day
Plus, EMS expands ALS COVID transfer availability and inpatient support.
Update on Capacity Management
The Capacity Management team continues to coordinate and collaborate available resources to meet patient and resident care needs across our organization. With the curiosity, creativity, and commitment displayed by our CentraCare teams and employees, we are maximizing our resources, focusing on our purpose, and leaning into the strength of One CentraCare.
Medical Officer of the Day
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three months and have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 do not need to get tested as long as they do not develop symptoms again. If they develop symptoms, they should get tested.
Nurse Support Line
St. Cloud Hospital ICU resource nurses are now available 24/7 to provide phone support and guidance to CentraCare’s nursing staff. The nurse support line was established in response to a request from nursing leadership as regional hospitals are caring for higher acuity patients.
Nurses at Rice Memorial Hospital can access telehealth nurse support services through Omnicure.
Respiratory Therapy Support Line
To support CentraCare regional hospitals and care teams, the Monticello Respiratory Therapy (RT) team is available 24/7 by phone to provide advice and guidance. The Monticello RT team can be reached at x32256 or 763-271-2256.
Emergency Medical Services expands ALS COVID transfer availability and inpatient support
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) expanded Advance Life Support (ALS) availability for COVID patients on high flow oxygen or ventilators who need to be transferred. As staffing permits, EMS is scheduling a dedicated ALS COVID Transfer crew from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily to assist with patient transfer needs between facilities.
EMS is also supporting regional inpatient care with a new Rapid Emergency Team (RET) that can be deployed to CentraCare regional hospital Emergency Departments to provide one-to-one medical monitoring of patients, for short surge periods of time. RET support is intended to help bridge gaps in regional care team availability.
CentraCare EMS staff members receive critical care training over their license requirements in order to support the health of our patients and communities.
ALS COVID Transfers and support from the EMS Rapid Emergency Team can requested by calling EMS dispatch at x52545 or 651-290-2545.
Right Care, Right Time, Right Place
To help our teams provide effective and efficient care, CentraCare is encouraging patients to choose the right level of care for their medical needs. We offer a variety of care options including online eClinic, same-day clinic appointments, urgent care, and emergency rooms. CentraCare Connect is available 24/7 at 320-200-3200 and is a great resource for patients who are not sure which option to choose.
We continue to share information with our communities about how full our hospitals and emergency rooms are, encourage patients to choose the right place for their care, and promote the benefits of lifesaving COVID vaccines. CentraCare.com also features information on Right Care, Right Time, Right Place in addition to a letter from Dr. Holmen highlighting ways we can all work together to fight COVID.
Together, we can do this!